“At home, school, the workplace and all points in between, pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products provide undeniable value to society and economies across the country. National Forest Products Week offers a welcome opportunity to underscore the value of these products to the nation’s economy and our everyday life.

“Paper and wood product manufacturers contribute to the economic backbone of communities across the country. The forest products industry employs directly nearly 900,000 men and women in family-wage jobs and rank among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 45 states. Our companies utilize renewable, recyclable materials in innovative and highly-efficient processes to make products Americans rely on today and will need tomorrow.

“Lives are made easier thanks to paper-based packaging, communications, hygienic and other specialty products along with innovating wood-based construction techniques. Across the production process, voluntary programs like Better Practices, Better Planet 2020resulted in improvements that demonstrate the industry’s firm commitment to sustainability. With goals for further industry improvement already in place, the future for paper, packaging, pulp, tissue and wood products is a vibrant one.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.